CellarNote: 1999 Pio Cesare Barolo

~ The Pio Cesare winery sits high atop its sloping vineyards ~

Nestled between the Alps and the Mediterranean sea, Piemonte offers rugged terrain and a climate that is often mercurial.  These very attributes make it the perfect environment for growing grapes and making compelling wine. The confluence of the cold Alpine air and the warm maritime moisture regularly creates a misty shroud of fog, called "nebbia" over these foothills.  This natural wonder is the mother of the name for the noble grape of the region, Nebbiolo. 

Pio Cesare founded his winery in 1881.  Today his vision has grown to include ownership of over 100 acres of ideal vineyards in both the Barolo and Barbaresco zones.  Fourth generation proprietor Pio Boffa, the great grandson of Pio Cesare, continues to lead the family charge with an approach to winemaking founded on minimal intervention. This ceaseless devotion to the individuality of each vineyard and the wines borne from them, is reflected in choices made in the cellar and evident in the finished wines.

~ Pio Cesare's wines are sometimes aged in a combination of barrique, tonneaux and botte.  Picture here is one of the underground caves for barrique refinement ~

Pio's Barolo is sourced from throughout the Barolo zone, however the majority of the fruit comes from the estate owned Ornato vineyard.  The wine is fermented in stainless steel and then transferred to a combination of French barrique (30%) and large Slavonian Botte (70%) both of which are new.  Elevage lasts three full years before the wine rests in bottle for an additional year prior to release.

Today we're checking in on the lovely 1999 estate Barolo.  There are certain aromas that certain wines are known to exhibit.  For Barolo, it's mushrooms and roses and this one has it in spades. 

Decanted for 60 minutes to remove sediment and allow the aromas to develop, the 1999 has glorious aromatics of fresh mushroom, new leather, crushed cherries and roses! Focused with laser like precision, it really is quite the educational Barolo to smell.  On the palate, the wine is harmonious, with flavors that echo the nose and a long, refined, smooth finish that comes from a decade of cellaring.  Tannins are still present, but are silky and caressing - providing structure along with the acids that have the wine in wonderful balance.  This is very, very nice and since current vintages of this bottling can be purchased for less than $45,  it's a steal.   95 points.  

~ If you are holding this in your cellar - give it a try!  If not, buy the 2010 and set it down for a decade ~

 Buon fine settimana!